Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 388

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 158.
May Your Final Performance
Be Your Greatest (33)
Joshua wore an odd expression.
“Did you explain our entire situation to those people?”
“Not entirely.”
I was intensely curious what sort of elaborate tale Maximian had concocted to persuade them, but I refrained from asking—first, I needed to hear his account.
“And about that carriage Strauss lent us—I’m sorry it ended up in the water. I could blame the coachman who fled, but truthfully, I lack the ability to dive into the sea and retrieve it myself. Oh, and Callaimon helped as well. That man must have commanded the harbor in his youth, judging by how capable he is.”
While Joshua merely rolled his eyes, Maximian stretched languidly.
“And Etern proved to be a meticulous fellow. He immediately deducted your share from the same-day ticket revenues. When I needed to exchange it for gold before departure, Hantke conveniently obliged. The man apparently keeps gold ingots stacked in his home—given how readily he exchanged it without hesitation, I’d wager that’s true.”
“He’s well-known. I actually heard his name back during my time with Cardi.”
Maximian nodded.
“Should you encounter them again, repay their kindness properly. For someone like you to receive such generosity—Durnensa’s hospitality truly is unmatched in this world.”
“Why do you keep saying ‘someone like me’?”
“Because you’re someone like you, that’s why.”
Yet Joshua didn’t press further, merely shrugging his shoulders.
“I’m sorry.”
Maximian remained silent for a moment, then murmured softly.
“You know you’re sorry?”
Neither met the other’s gaze, their posture awkward, yet they understood perfectly what the other left unsaid. When they quarreled, words flowed endlessly; when reconciling, lengthy speech proved unnecessary.
Joshua spoke.
“That day in the dressing room, I told you to leave with my own mouth, but when you truly didn’t appear the next day, I felt… strangely unsettled.”
“Is that so? When I heard that, I seriously considered whether to quietly hand your neck over to that salaried man or strangle you right here myself.”
“Wait… what?”
Their eyes met. Maximian continued without smiling.
“Based on my thorough understanding, I suspect you’ll pull something like this again someday, so I’m not canceling this plan—merely postponing it.”
Joshua blinked several times, uncertain how to respond, before finally managing a reply.
“Well, if that’s what you think…”
At that response, Maximian stared into empty space once more, exasperated, while Joshua averted his gaze with hunched shoulders. In this manner, they exchanged words like “You madman, I’ll kill you—at least accept that” and “Since you’re mad, I respect your opinion.” Maximian was the person in this world most accustomed to Joshua’s insanity, yet Joshua was equally the one who understood that aspect of him best.
Eventually Joshua murmured.
“Everything ended in such chaos. I couldn’t even say goodbye to anyone. To Ines and her brother.”
Maximian spoke as well.
“I didn’t see Ines either, now that you mention it.”
“Ines sang beautifully this time. I couldn’t even praise her for it.”
Twenty-odd days had flown past like arrows. Both fell silent, lost in memories of what had transpired. When the ship creaked once, Milestone rose from the table, saying he’d check the helm, and departed. Maximian spoke.
“He’s a skilled sailor.”
Joshua nodded, then said.
“Right, so we’re still not flying, are we?”
“Without you, who would manipulate the mechanisms to make it fly? We’ll need to dock at some island first before we can fly again—or not. Milestone said we’d reach some island by tomorrow morning if we continue like this. We can only hope there’s a doctor there. For now, all we can do is keep him covered with blankets and wipe away his sweat. I hope the shock isn’t too severe.”
“By the way, who bandaged him?”
“Naji.”
“So you can do that too.”
“Don’t forget I raised six cursed younger siblings. Though I’ll admit, a girl around that age was harder to manage.”
After that, both fell silent. Though they spoke in measured tones, their hearts churned with worry. They had not merely failed to protect Riche, whom they had brought along—they had brought her to this state. Before blaming whoever had orchestrated this, guilt consumed them first. After a long pause, Maximian spoke quietly.
“If Caesar found out, he’d kill us both.”
Joshua agreed entirely.
Far to the north, beyond the distant sea where Beauty’s Pinnacle sailed, across borders and mountain ranges and plains, lay Keltika. Whatever trials the three of them endured to reach that place, it remained at peace—too distant to hear even a whisper of news from the southern continent across the sea.
Summer’s arrival announced itself through the dormitory windows of Royal Grome School, which stood wide open. The scenes visible through those windows varied greatly: some rooms appointed like salons in grand manors, others crammed with the clutter of poor scholars threatening to spill onto the floor, pleasant chambers with four open windows, and attic rooms with only two small casements.
Yet one room on the second floor kept all four of its windows sealed shut, despite commanding a handsome view directly over the Garden.
The visitor stood gazing at those windows for a moment. Students passing through the Courtyard glanced at her, but none could discern what thoughts occupied her mind. She possessed a remarkable talent for concealing her thoughts behind an expressionless face.
Even among noble students, few wore dresses as elaborately layered as this visitor’s. Thus the young lady standing in the courtyard drew considerable attention. Her pale champagne-colored summer dress billowed in a bell shape, and the lace parasol shielding her from sunlight was as ornate as the dress itself. The face visible beneath the broad-brimmed white hat was refined, yet simultaneously carried an air of cool reserve that discouraged approach. She was dressed impeccably in the latest fashion of high society, yet she had no attendants accompanying her.
Soon she ceased enjoying the gazes of passersby and ascended the stairs. She stopped briefly at the dormitory supervisor’s office to complete the visitor registration procedures. When she stated her purpose concisely, permission was granted immediately. As she made her way to the dormitory proper, several students turned to watch her. She possessed quite a beautiful face.
In the dormitory lobby, she encountered someone she knew and exchanged brief greetings. That noble-born student found herself the object of envious glances from her friends after the young lady departed, prompting an awkward cough.
The young lady ascended to the second floor via the central staircase. Walking slowly while checking room numbers, she stopped before a door bearing a golden nameplate inscribed with “212.”
She knocked.
“Oh, just a moment, wait a second. Hold on.”
A playful, cheerful voice came from within the room, and after what seemed like a lengthy interval, the door opened. A small figure with a white face and short, shimmering golden-brown hair cut short looked out. Knee-length shorts, a wrinkled jacket, and a backwards cap created an impression of a mischievous young gentleman in every respect—yet the visitor knew this person was no boy.
“Who are you?”
“You are Yien Cattleya da Amaranth of the Amaranth Count Family, are you not?”
Yien frowned at hearing a name she disliked.
“Who exactly are you?”
The visitor smiled slightly.
“Your mother asked me to come. I live in Keltika, though I often have business in the Southern Region. On a previous occasion, I had the honor of briefly visiting the Amaranth Family Castle. When I mentioned I would be returning to Keltika, your mother asked me to deliver this to you.”
Yien’s expression clouded at the mention of her mother, but upon accepting the bundle the visitor offered, could only say:
“Please, come inside and have some tea. I’ll pass along your regards to Mother.”
The visitor accepted without hesitation and stepped into the room. As she was led to the sitting area of the neatly arranged chamber—as if touched by a servant’s hand—she continuously glanced about her surroundings. Whether from never having attended school herself and thus feeling curious, or from some other reason, she examined every object with meticulous care.
Yet the tea was brought not by a servant but by Yien herself. Upon tasting it, the tea-brewing skill proved rather poor. Meanwhile, Yien tore open the bundle slightly and sighed again.
“Mother is truly persistent.”
As she unwrapped the packaging, a white summer dress with bare shoulders and gloves emerged—the finest chiffon, with a charming design featuring small mesh rose corsages arranged in a circle beneath the puffed sleeves. Yet it seemed the day Yien would wear such a dress would never come.
Inside lay a letter. Upon unfolding it, she sighed even more deeply. It contained instructions to wear that dress and attend a party to be held at some family’s estate in Keltika in the near future.
The visitor held her teacup to her lips, smiling. Yien folded the letter hastily and glanced at her guest, then spoke.
“It would suit you well.”
She said this because the dress was of a style rarely seen at school. The visitor shook her head.
“It would suit you beautifully as well. Your mother has excellent taste. She clearly understands what suits her daughter.”
“If she understood, she wouldn’t send this. Don’t you see what I’m wearing?”
The visitor smiled again, a smile like a painting.
“Such attire is amusing in its own way, but this beautiful dress seems incomparable. Moreover, it carries your mother’s affection within it.”
Yien simply sighed. This was not someone worth arguing with anyway. She was neither a school student nor anyone of particular importance—merely someone who had stopped by to fulfill a request. With this thought, Yien attempted to conclude the conversation.
“Mother could have simply sent a messenger for this errand. I’m sorry you’ve been troubled with such an inconvenient request.”
The visitor shook her head.
“No, Mother has told me several times that she would prefer me over a mere errand girl.”
“Is that so? Does she have a particular reason?”
“Yes. Mother wished for me to become friends with Miss Amaranth. She even wrote in her letter that she hoped I would accompany you to the party, and she held my hand so earnestly when she spoke of it that I resolved to do so.”
Yien regarded her visitor with an expression of genuine perplexity. To suddenly become friends with a young lady whose name she did not even know—it was no small inconvenience for someone who carried so many secrets. Yet it would be equally difficult to turn away the gracious lady who had gone to such trouble at her mother’s behest. Her mother seemed to believe that if Yien befriended such a refined, well-mannered, and mature young lady, perhaps Yien herself might become more ladylike in turn. But…
As these thoughts occupied her mind, she realized she had not yet even asked for her visitor’s name.
“Forgive me, but I don’t yet know who you are, Miss.”
The visitor set down her teacup with an elegance that Yien could never hope to imitate, and spoke.
“I am Sylviet de Argenson of House of Argenson.”
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright of this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of this book’s content, you must obtain written consent from both parties.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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